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Abstract

Based on a critical analysis of the mainstream development discourse, the subaltern's
history, and hybrid theoretical models, this dissertation is focused on studying the
transformation of the Pre-Hispanic state and the institutionalized social relationships of money
in Central Mexico. This work emphasizes the need to recreate historical specific models to reconceptualize
institutional development in former colonies. Chartalism, the state theory of
money, assists in the creation of a more comprehensive theory to study monetary history in
Central Mexico. I argue that in order to create an alternative historiography, it is mandatory to shed light on
the institutional structure of the Mexican subaltern—the Mexicas. This study begins by
analyzing the nature of the Mexica's political and monetary institutions. This analysis is
followed by the study of the monetary and production systems that emerged out of the
interaction between the Mexicas and the Spanish immigrant population during the early and the
late colonial periods. The study focuses on the transformation of Nahuas interrelated
institutions—state and money—once the Spanish institutions were introduced. A parallel objective of this dissertation is to study two major kinds of institutions—
institutions of social reproduction and institutions of economic exploitation —found in
constant interaction throughout the history of Mexico. The institutions of social reproduction
have allowed the maintenance of non-capitalist social arrangements in the form of peasantindigenous
communities that have coexisted through self-sufficiency and/or a partial
incorporation into the capitalist economy. The institutions of exploitation are represented by
the ancient tributary systems and the colonial taxation systems that have attempted to control
peasant-indigenous communities to a political institution. From this interaction, a particular
monetary system has been generated during the colonial times. Influenced by cultural patterns
and ideologies, political and monetary systems have taken different shapes throughout
historical periods in Central Mexico how this study shows.

Table of Contents

Theoretical framework: The non-linear analysis of monetary history of Central Mexico -- Methodology: Hybrid models and subaltern studies -- The Triple Alliance's institutional model: a subaltern historical context -- Did the Nahuas have money? The construction of myths -- New Spain's institutional structure: Transition or disruption -- New Spain's taxation systems: Did colonial money replace Nahuas' sense of reciprocity -- The nature of the colonial state and monetary systems in Central Mexico -- Appendix A. Map of Central Mexico's major altepetls -- Appendix B. Terms for fractions of primary units in the indigenous measuring system -- Appendix C. Cabildos in Central Mexico by the eighteen century